In what would mark a significant leap in the strike capabilities of its only stealth fighter, the Russian Aerospace Forces are reportedly receiving new Su-57 aircraft equipped with hypersonic missiles, in line with recent statements from Russian officials indicating an increased delivery pace. The news was revealed by Lieutenant General Aleksandr Maksimtsev, who currently serves as Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the institution, quickly gaining traction in major Russian media outlets.
Bringing to the table some of the statements made by Lieutenant General Maksimtsev during an interview: “In accordance with the state defense order, the Aerospace Forces receive advanced and modernized weapons systems annually. The delivery pace of fifth-generation Su-57 aircraft is increasing, along with modern air strike systems and hypersonic weapons.”
It is noteworthy, however, that no specific mention has been made of the type of missile that will form part of the stealth fighter’s arsenal, opening the door to speculation. Among the potential candidates is a modified version of the Zircon cruise missile, currently deployed aboard both surface ships and submarines of the Russian Navy. While this airborne variant has been confirmed to be in development, its characteristics remain unclear, making it difficult to estimate its performance or the number of missiles a Su-57 could carry.
Another weapon that Lieutenant General Maksimtsev may have been referring to is the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missile, also known by its NATO designation AS-24 Killjoy. This missile is currently deployed aboard MiG-31K/I aircraft and was previously considered for integration into the Tu-22 bombers of the Aerospace Forces. However, analysts from both the West and China have pointed out that the Kinzhal may have more limited capabilities than officially claimed by Moscow. Still, it is worth noting that this remains Russia’s only air-launched hypersonic missile available at present.
In the absence of further details, it is also relevant to highlight that the Su-57 is not yet fully integrated into the Russian Aerospace Forces, as it is currently deployed with only a single regiment. This raises questions about the feasibility of Russia’s plans to field hundreds of units by the start of the next decade. The latest confirmed batch was delivered in April, joining three previous batches received in 2024, although the exact number of aircraft has not been specified.
Finally, it is also worth mentioning that, despite the seemingly slow pace of deliveries, the Su-57 has already been selected by the Algerian Air Force as its future fifth-generation fighter. The news was announced by the North African country’s official television channel in February of this year, just a few months after earlier announcements by representatives of the Russian agency Rosoboronexport during the Aero India International Air Show.
Images used for illustrative purposes only.
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